The Cleveland Cavaliers took their unblemished 15-0 record into Boston on Tuesday night in NBA Cup action for a showdown with the Celtics, and the affair turned into a game that lived up to the billing.
Up 65-48 at halftime, the Celtics, who emerged victorious 120-117, appeared to have the game won easily, set to coast to another victory on the back of sublime three-point shooting (they were 22-for-41 on the night). The Cavaliers had other plans though, clawing back from a 21-point third quarter deficit to score 40 points in the third, 30 of which came in the final seven and a half minutes of the frame.
The Cavaliers (15-1, 1-1 NBA Cup) got to within two points in the quarter, but Jayson Tatum’s long triple as the quarter clock hit zero gave the home team a five point cushion heading into the fourth.
Eighteen of Donovan Mitchell’s 35 points came in the fourth as he finished inside with crafty drives and hit from the outside. His playmaking ability is such a major plus for the Cavaliers and there is the advantage that he is good enough to be the best player in a game on any given night. Evan Mobley (22 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists) did a great job all game long inside on both ends, while Craig Porter Jr. (15 points), Georges Niang (11 points) and Ty Jerome (10 points) all played solid games off the bench for an undermanned Cavalier team that was missing Isaac Okoro, Caris LeVert, and Dean Wade.
The Celtics, meanwhile, were led by Tatum’s 33 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists (11-for-22, 6-for-10 from downtown). Al Horford was his usual dependable self with 3 blocks to go along with 20 points and 7 rebounds on 4-for-5 from deep, while Derrick White scored 19 on four made triples. Jaylen Brown (17 points, 7-for-17, 2-for-7 from downtown) did not have the best offensive game but played good defense. Payton Pritchard added 13 off the bench. The Celtics continue to be without Kristaps Porzingis, which is a scary proposition for the rest of the league.
Going on the road to face the defending champions was a difficult task for the Cavaliers, but they remained poised as the Celtics (12-3, 1-1 NBA Cup) extended their lead, steadily getting back in the game. If people wondered whether the Cavaliers were a legitimate team and whether their 15-0 record was a fluke, they put those ideas to bed in front of a national audience. They are for real.
In Memphis, Russell Westbrook recorded his 200th career triple-double (nineteen ahead of Oscar Robertson’s 181, Nikola Jokic is second among active players with 136) in the Denver Nuggets’ 122-110 win over the Grizzlies. Westbrook’s 12 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds (5-for-12) in 32 minutes was a catalyst for the Nuggets, who received strong performances from Jamal Murray (27 points, 10-for-20) and Michael Porter Jr. (24 points, 11 rebounds, 11-for-21). Murray’s output was especially needed both for himself and the Nuggets, as he is shooting just 40 percent on the season. Porter Jr. was coming off a poor 4-for-12 outing in the Nuggets’ previous game which was a 105-90 loss to Memphis on November 17. He has missed his last eight three-point attempts. The Nuggets improved to 8-5 with the win and are 1-1 in NBA Cup group play.
The Grizzlies, who dropped to 8-7 (0-2 NBA Cup), were led by Santi Aldama’s 28 points and 11 rebounds (12-for-19) off the bench, while Jaren Jackson Jr. put up 19 points and 8 rebounds out of the starting group.
Los Angeles Laker rookie Dalton Knecht scored 37 points on nine triples in the team’s 124-118 home win over the Utah Jazz as the Lakers improved to 10-4 (six straight wins, 2-0 NBA Cup).
From the 3:29 mark of the third to 9:51 remaining the fourth, Knecht scored 22 consecutive points, including four triples in the span of one minute and 42 seconds. He finished 9-for-12 from downtown and 12-for-16 overall.
Anthony Davis put up 26 points, 14 rebounds and 6 assists on 10-for-15 while LeBron James also scored 26 and had 12 assists on 9-for-17. Lauri Markkanen led the now 3-11 Jazz (0-2 NBA Cup) with 25 points and 8 rebounds.
Around the League
Nets 116 (6-9)
Hornets 115 (5-9)
Cam Johnson: 34 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST (11-for-20 FG, 6-for-12 3PT)
Schroder: 14 PTS, 12 AST, 5 REB (5-for-12 FG)
Miller: 29 PTS (11-for-17 FG, 5-for-9 3PT)
Tre Mann: 19 PTS, 6 AST off bench (7-for-17 FG, 4-for-6 3PT)
BKN: 1-1 NBA Cup
CHA: 0-2 NBA Cup
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Mavericks 132 (8-7)
Pelicans 91 (4-11)
Doncic: 26 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST (10-for-16 FG)
Thompson: 19 PTS (5-for-9 3PT)
Irving: 18 PTS, 7 AST (4-for-5 3PT)
Murphy: 19 PTS, 5 REB (5-for-13 FG)
Ingram: 17 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST (6-for-15 FG)
DAL: 1-1 NBA Cup
NOP: 1-1 NBA Cup
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Spurs 110 (7-8)
Thunder 104 (11-4)
Keldon Johnson: 22 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST off bench (7-for-15 FG, 6-for-12 3PT)
Barnes: 20 PTS, 8 REB (6-for-13 FG)
Gilgeous-Alexander: 32 PTS, 7 AST (11-for-20 FG)
Jalen Williams: 27 PTS, 10 REB, 6 AST (13-for-26 FG)
OKC: 4-4 in last 8 games
OKC: 1-1 NBA Cup
SA: 1-1 NBA Cup
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